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Trip from Deer Valley, AZ to Joseph City, AZ

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 32m

Distance

205.2 mi

330 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$41

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 21m ★
6 AM
3h 33m
8 AM
3h 58m
10 AM
3h 42m
12 PM
3h 39m
3 PM
3h 43m
5 PM
3h 56m
8 PM
3h 26m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Deer Valley, AZ, AZ

Deer Valley, AZ

Line Knipst

Downtown Joseph City, AZ, AZ

Joseph City, AZ

Chris The Island

Trip Overview

The drive from Deer Valley, AZ to Joseph City, AZ covers 205.2 miles and takes about 3h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Arizona Veterans Highway, Purple Heart Trail, Black Canyon Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 90.6 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.88 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

102.6 miles from Deer Valley, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 32m. Total distance: 205.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (11%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 32m drive with frequent turns across 205.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Arizona Veterans Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 90.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near West Pinnacle Peak Road.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 205.2 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (West Pinnacle Peak Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (North Black Canyon Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
1 mi into trip | ~1m in | West Pinnacle Peak Road

At end of road, turn right onto West Pinnacle Peak Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
2.3 mi into trip | ~4m in | North Black Canyon Highway

Turn left onto North Black Canyon Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
2.6 mi into trip | ~4m in | I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway

Merge onto I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
124.6 mi into trip | ~2h 9m in

Take the exit toward I 40 East, Albuquerque

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 40 East, Albuquerque
5
204.2 mi into trip | ~3h 31m in | I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist / Main Street

At end of road, turn right onto I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist / Main Street

Navigation decision point

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Deer Valley, AZ to Joseph City, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Albuquerque along the way.

Albuquerque

124.6 mi in | ~2h 9m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Arizona Veterans Highway 90.6 mi 1h 31m
Purple Heart Trail 78.4 mi 1h 19m
Black Canyon Freeway 21.9 mi 22m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway 8.9 mi 9m
West Pinnacle Peak Road 1.3 mi 2m
North 35th Avenue 1 mi 1m
Main Street 1 mi 1m
Prescott–Flagstaff Highway 0.6 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Arizona Veterans Highway — 90.6 mi, about 1h 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Deer Valley, AZ and Joseph City, AZ.

1

Start on North 35th Avenue

1.0 mi · 1 min · North 35th Avenue
2

At end of road, turn right onto West Pinnacle Peak Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · West Pinnacle Peak Road
Use the right lane.
3

Turn left onto North Black Canyon Highway

0.1 mi · 13 sec · North Black Canyon Highway
Use the left lane.
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 16 sec
Toward I 17 North
5

Merge onto I 17

22 mi · 22 min · Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Continue on I 17

8.9 mi · 9 min · Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on I 17

13 mi · 13 min · Arizona Veterans Highway
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 17

77 mi · 1 hr 17 min · Arizona Veterans Highway
9

Continue on I 17; AZ 89A

0.6 mi · 43 sec · Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
10

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 40 East, Albuquerque
11

Merge onto I 40

78 mi · 1 hr 19 min · Purple Heart Trail
12

Take the exit onto I 40 BUS

0.5 mi · 1 min · I 40 BUS
Toward I 40 Business: Joseph City
13

Turn left onto I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist

0.2 mi · 28 sec · I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist
14

At end of road, turn right onto I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist

1.0 mi · 1 min · Main Street
15

Arrive at destination

I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 102.6 miles from Deer Valley, AZ, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.6 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 45 miles or 49m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 102.6 miles or 1h 47m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 54m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Joseph City, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Deer Valley, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Deer Valley, AZ

This is one driving day of about 205.2 miles and 3h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Deer Valley, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Arizona Veterans Highway for about 90.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 102.6 mi from Deer Valley, AZ · 1h 47m into the drive

city in Yavapai and Coconino counties in Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sedona, AZ

103 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Surprise, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sedona, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 102.6 miles from Deer Valley, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Arizona Veterans Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 90.6 miles.

Arriving in Joseph City, AZ

The final approach into Joseph City, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Joseph City, AZ.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Montezuma Castle National Monument

National Monument

Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff...

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 near mile 77.8
Caution: High Levels of Visitation
View on nps.gov
Walnut Canyon National Monument

Walnut Canyon National Monument

National Monument

Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have lived and traveled throughout Walnut Canyon’s dynamic landscape. Vibrant communities built their homes in the cliffs and farmed along the canyon’s rim. T...

3 mi from route ~7 min detour $25 near mile 134.4
View on nps.gov
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

National Monument

The lava flow lies on the land like a dream, a wonderland of rock. A thousand years ago the ground was torn open and lava erupted into the sky, forever changing the landscape and the lives of the peop...

11 mi from route ~28 min detour $25 near mile 134.4
View on nps.gov
Tuzigoot National Monument

Tuzigoot National Monument

National Monument

Water flows under and through this landscape, feeding the growth of people and towns. The Verde Valley is watered by snowmelt, summer monsoons, and springs that well up from the ancient sedimentary ro...

15 mi from route ~37 min detour $10 near mile 77.8
View on nps.gov
Wupatki National Monument

Wupatki National Monument

National Monument

Nestled between the Painted Desert and ponderosa highlands of northern Arizona, Wupatki National Monument is an unlikely landscape for a thriving community. The early 1100's marked a time of cooler an...

25 mi from route ~62 min detour $25 near mile 141.5
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$40.88 one way

$81.76 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 72 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $43.26 $86.52
premium $5.59 $45.17 $90.34
diesel $5.61 $45.31 $90.61

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$41

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$66–$91

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 71.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 61.6 0 $21.55 $9.85
Efficient EV 51.3 0 $17.96 $8.21
EV Truck/SUV 82.1 1 $28.73 $13.13

Gas CO2

72 kg

EV CO2

24 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Deer Valley, AZ

Morning in Deer Valley on Thursday

Local time

11:54 AM

MST

Current temp

88°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Joseph City, AZ

Morning in Joseph City on Thursday

Local time

11:54 AM

MST

Current temp

37°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

51 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 32m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Deer Valley, AZ to Joseph City, AZ covers 205.2 miles and takes about 3h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Arizona Veterans Highway, Purple Heart Trail, Black Canyon Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 102.6 miles from Deer Valley, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.88 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 205.2 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (West Pinnacle Peak Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (North Black Canyon Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Deer Valley, AZ to Joseph City, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Albuquerque along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Montezuma Castle National Monument, Walnut Canyon National Monument and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. There are 5 parks within detour distance of this route.

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